Compassionate Pug Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit, all volunteer pug rescue organization

Our mission is to provide veterinary care, public education, and a nurturing foster environment for any pug regardless of age or condition until they are healthy and placed in a loving “forever home”.

June is Ouch, My Eye! Awareness Month

We at CPR recently received our 5th rescue dog this year that needed to have at least one eye enucleated (removed) due to trauma or untreated dry eye.  We have also rescued others that either have severe cataracts and may lose an eye or already had lost an eye before we rescued them.

This is such a tragic thing to happen to a sweet puggie and it can be prevented in most cases by proper eye care. This month we have decided to raise awareness and educate everyone about the importance of proper eye care for the Pug dog breed.

Their slightly protruding eyes are easy targets and are often damaged by an accidental poke or scratch, or another animal. Often it is simply through neglect of preventative eye care. Either way removal of the eye may have been avoided if the owner had known more about the eyes and their required care.

Below are 5 Pugs that CPR has taken in with at least one eye in such terrible condition that they had to be removed immediately. There are many others that receive treatment and the eye(s) are saved or removal is put on hold.

Risk Factors & Detection

In a healthy eye, a watery film of tears coats the eye’s surface, called the cornea. The tear film protects the cornea and lubricates the eyelids. Dry eye, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), occurs when the tear glands don’t produce enough tears and the cornea becomes dry.  The most common cause of dry eye is destruction of the tear glands by the body’s immune system. Trauma, certain drugs, and illness also cause dry eye.  Because the tear film protects the cornea, a dry eye can lead to corneal ulcers or infection. If left untreated, the condition can result in blindness from corneal scarring. 

Signs of dry eye include:
Redness of the tissues surrounding the eye (conjunctivitis)
Thick, stringy, yellow or green mucus in and around the eye
A dull appearance to the eye’s surface
Squinting or refusal to open the eye
Swelling of the tissues around the eye

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to keep the cornea moist. You can do so by giving your dog drugs that stimulate the tear glands to produce more tears or by applying artificial tears.  Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive drug incorporated into an eye ointment, reduces the destruction of the tear glands by the body’s immune system and stimulates tear production. You apply the ointment once or twice daily, depending on the dog’s response. Cyclosporine boosts tear production as long as there is enough tear gland left to respond. Treatment with this drug is life-long. Interrupting treatment for as little as 24 hours causes symptoms to return in most dogs.  In many cases owner can also add artificial tears several times throughout the day.

There are two choices for treatment of dry eye

The Traditional Approach
If you notice any of the above signs please take your dog to the vet or opthomologist immediately and keep those beautiful eyes moist and healthy. There are many tests available at the Vets office to determine if your dog is suffering from dry eye.

The Holistic Approach
Holistic vets work to find the root cause of illness. If the liver needs attention, these vets will work to resolve the cause to bring your pet back to good health. Many traditional vets often cooperate with holistic vets to find a suitable treatment for their patients.

CPR has incurred extensive vet bills with the specialists and surgeries involved in getting these beautiful babies back on track. If you would like to make a donation (any amount will help) to help us keep providing this medical care to other poor puggies please click on the donate bone below to make a donation towards their treatment in honor of one or all of the dogs above.

Compassionate Pug Rescue wishes to thank Dr. Karl Schmidt and Dr. Rob Swinger of Animal Eye Specialties, and Dr. Tom Sessa of Hollywood Animal Hospital for their extraordinary veterinary care in saving or removing our Pug’s precious eyes or when necessary.

Owen - Pug of the Month

Hello there pug lovers, my name is Owen, I am not perfect, but I need your unconditional love! 

The vets think I am about 3yrs old. I was found wandering in the rural REDLANDS area near Homestead which was scary for me as I cannot see.  My eyes were scratched and punctured probably because I couldn’t see and bumped into things.  I also have a huge scar around my neck that could possibly be from an embedded collar.  But enough about my sad story and let me tell you where I am now.

NOW I am in a great foster home where in two days I have learned the layout of my temporary house.  My entire body shakes (not just my tail) with happiness when I am in the yard.  I recently have had to have both of my eyes removed after CPR tried very hard to have an eye specialist save them, but they were unable to since my eyes were so damaged.  My vet bill was over $700 and CPR could use some help in paying this bill to help me live a more comfortable life.  I am still as cute as ever!  No donation is too small. Just put “for Owen” somewhere on the donation.

To read more about Owen please visit our Available Pugs page

CPR NEEDS FOSTER HOMES FOR OUR SENIOR PUGS

CPR is in need of foster homes for senior pugs. Senior Pugs offer unconditional love with few if any demands in return. Can you open your home and heart to one of our special seniors like Woody? If you can, please fill out a volunteer application on our site by selecting the Volunteer App menu item or clicking Volunteer Application.

CPR pays for all medical needs of foster pugs so you are not burdened with them. Pugs like this little one above are in County animal shelters and are marked for euthanasia unless they are picked up in time by a rescue like CPR. CPR needs homes for our seniors so we never have to say No to one of these babies who need us.

Please check out our Senior Pugs page by clicking Senior Pugs.

Also check out the Top 10 Reasons for adopting an older Pug by clicking Top 10 Reasons